How much time have you spent doing networking activities in the past week?

If you’re like most people, your answer to that question is probably somewhere between zero and none.

The most common excuses I hear from my clients are:

• I’m too busy
• I’m an introvert
• With COVID, there aren’t in-person events anymore, or I don’t feel safe attending in-person events

It’s time to quit making excuses and get into action!

In case you need some inspiration, here are a few of the results I’ve experienced due to networking:

• I successfully transitioned into a completely different career without going back to school or getting any certifications
• I landed a fantastic job where I stayed for 11 years. I would never have found this job without a referral from someone in my network.
• I launched and grew a successful business in the middle of COVID using networking as my primary marketing strategy.

You don’t even have to leave your house to network.

Online networking can be an excellent way to build a valuable community, especially if you’re busy, introverted, or uncomfortable with in-person events.

Here are some strategies to help you get started with online networking.

Decide Where to Network

Social media channels like LinkedIn are an excellent place to start. You can also check out professional organizations and forums specifically for your chosen industry.

Keep your eyes open for virtual events too. They often come with chat rooms and networking spaces where you can reach out to others with shared interests. I’ve attended events where they facilitated the online networking process to make it easy to meet new people.

Connect with the Right People

Look for industry peers and people who can teach you something. Connect with people who have a strong presence in your industry or a link to the businesses you want to work with.

Keep an open mind when making your relationships online. If someone offers to introduce you to someone they think could help you, take advantage. You might be surprised to discover who can make a difference in your future career.

Network Regularly

Schedule a few hours every week where you can check out what’s happening on social media, read up on the content shared on your favorite forums, and participate in conversations.

You’ll need an active online presence if you want to make those connections count.

Remember to check your news feed daily when you can, and at the very least, try to update your LinkedIn status with a few relevant factoids or links to relevant news stories from your industry.

The more people see you online, the more likely they’ll feel connected to you and want to strike up a conversation.

Follow Up Regularly

If you’re going to grow a successful network online, you need to work at making connections. You can’t expect the same emotional link to someone online as you do in person, so you’ll need to “speak” to the people you meet more often.

Make a habit of regularly getting online and devoting time to following up with the people you’ve already met.

If you’ve already spoken to someone on social media quite a few times and want to strengthen the relationship, ask them to connect over a virtual coffee via video conference.

Be Helpful and Informative

The more you invest in networking, the more you’ll learn that people want to connect with others they believe can help them. The more informative, helpful, and knowledgeable you are, the more valuable you become.

Make a concentrated effort to share useful information whenever you can.

Write posts where you talk about your experiences in the industry. Respond to questions being asked by other people in your space. Introduce two people in your network that you believe have common interests.

Keep Working on It

You won’t always be an instant success when you start networking with your peers. It might take a while for people to respond to you, and some might ignore you completely.

As in most things, the key to success is to keep working.

Don’t let it get you down if you initially struggle with building your network. Keep focusing on your goals and practicing.

Over time, you’ll learn how to become more effective at building relationships. What’s more, those relationships will help you achieve your career goals.

Practice with Me

If you want to get some practice, email me, and we can set up a virtual coffee to discuss your strategies.

Wishing you the best!